Circuit-controller.



T. G. Simms. CIRCUIT CON'IRLLER.v APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1910.

Patented June 25,1912.

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T. G. STLES..

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER. I APPLIGATION FILED MAY 25, 1910.

Patent@ Jun@ 25, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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THOMAS GEORGE STILES, F ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY.

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, .1912.

Application led May 25, 1910. Serial No. 563,269.

To all whom it may concern:

X Be it known that I, THOMAS GEORGE S'rlLEs, a citizen ot the United States, and a resident ot Arlingtoin'in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful.improvements in CircuitControllers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in circuit controllers, especiallyA draw-bridge circuit controllers, and the main object ot the invention is to provide an improved controller of the sliding or plug-contact type, and especially of the multiple plugcontact type, so constructed as to provide on the cooperative or contacting members a large number oi points in close and firm engagement to assure the proper passage of current 'through these contacting members when they are in engagement.

ln carrying the invent-ion into effect I prefer to employ as the principal current conducting elements of the circuit-controller a spring contact ofthe sliding-plug type and a conducting socket in sliding contact with said spring contacL when the circuitthrough these parts is closed. This spring Contact is preferably so constructed as to be put under compression by the walls of the socket when it enters said socket and make contact with such walls at opposite edges of each `element or spring-finger of the lspring Contact, in order that good contact paths may be provided for the passage ot the current through the circuit contro-ller.

For draw-bridge werk the cooperative plugs, and sockets, organized to make proper sliding engagement in pairs will be provided in multiple, a plurality of like sockets being preferably carried by the abutment member of the circuit-controller and a multiplicity of like plugs or spring contacts beingprovided on the dravvfbridge member or the circuit-Controller. In such a multiple circuit-controller l prefer to mount all of the plugs or spring contacts on a lsliding frame carried by the draw-bridge member and to slide this frame back and tortli to carry each sliding or plug elementot the circuit-controller into or out of enga ement with the walls of its socket to maxe or break its circuit, as the Case may be.

Other features. of my invention relate to frame carrying the. plug elements of the cireut-controller, ot' a, casing member or members, preferably top, bottom and side covers, or inclosing by a telescoping action the operative parts of the abutment membfl` ofA the circuit-controller when'the plugs and sockets are in engagement and thus protecting the circuit-controller from the action ot' the elements.

A further `important feature ot the invention is the provision as one of the main parts otl each sliding element of the. circuitcontroller, of a long contact-rod, preferably angular in cross section, which slides through a fixed spring contact comprising a circuit of contact-springs or fingers each of which maintains electrical connection with such contact-rod whatever the .position ot the latter may be, and preferably is in constant sliding engagementwith a sharp edge or angle of such rod. This construction assures proper electrical connection to each plug element of the circuit-controller in whatever position the sliding plug may be.

Other features oit' the invention nothereinbefore described will be hereinafter referred to and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- K Figure 1 is a plan, with parts broken away, of the bridge member of a multiple drawbridge circuit controller embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a. horizontal section, the section being taken in the line A--i-X, Fig. 4, of the cooperating or abutment mein ber of said circuit-controller placed in operative relation with he complementary member shown in Fig. l; Fig, 3 is a vertical section of the drawbridge member of the circuit-controller, the section being taken' in the line B-B, Fig. l, F ig. l is a vertical section of the abutment 'member of said circuit-controllerMtlie section being -taken in line C-C, Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail illustrating in cross section a single elementof the circuit-controller with the spring nge'rs of the plug switch in contactwith the Walls of its socket elementi'` Fig. (i is a plan, with parts wbroken away, oi' a draw-bridge circuit-controller illustratinga modifica-tion of the invention. Fig. 7 is a vertical section ot the same, the section being taken in the line D-D, Fig. 6. Fig. S is a detail illustrating in side elevation with the provision in connect-ion with this sliding parts broken away the plug-switch shown in ico which it coacts is opened or closed.

cross-head 7 constitutes in this construction Fig. 5, and Fig. v9 is a detail illustrating in cross-sectie. aspring contact device through which a contact rod slides. j

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of `the drawings.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, 1 designates the main frame element of the draw-bridge mem er of the circuit-controller, this beingin the construction shown a substantially rectangular box having side walls, a rear end Wall and a bottom, but open at the front to permit sliding movement of a frame carrying the sliding contact elements of the controller. This main 'frame member or box'may be fastened to a drawbridge in any suitable manner, as by means of bolts passing through ears 2 projecting from the bottom of the box. At t-he opposite ends of the inner sides of this box or casing 1, anti-friction rollers, such as 3, are carried, these being located near the top of the box 1 and constituting supports Jfor a sliding cover member, which may be of the type indicated at 4. This cover has depending iianges, such as 5, at the sides and rear end thereof, which extend down over the outside of the upper edges of the box member 1, to keep out rain, snow, etc. Near its forward end the cover L1 has depending side covers, such as 6, extending almost to the bottom of the box 1, these also serving to protect the working parts of the controller from the weather, especially at the point of connection of the bridge and abutment members. All of the sliding parts of the circuit-controller are carried in this case by the drawbridge member, and all of them are preferably supported for movement in unison With the cover 4. ln order to mount and operate the sliding elements of the circuit-controller properly, a slide-frame is provided which is suspended at one end from the coverl 4 and suit-ably supported and guided at its opposite end. This frame as shown comprises a cross-head 7, a slideblock 8 to which the cross-head. 7 'is secured and which is mounted on `a suitable slide 9 carried on guides, such as 10 and 11, at opposite ends of the box 1, and a coacting bar 12 by means of which the circuit-controller is operated when the draw-bridge with The a support for the rear ends of a multiplicity of contact-rods each one of which is insulated from every other. Each rod is prefer# ably angular in cross section, the construction illustrated being rectangular rods.

which are designated respectively by 13: At

its rear end each rod is reduced where it passes through the cross-head 7 and is insulated from the cross-head by an insulating bushing, such as 1.4-, suitable means, preferably a nut on the threaded rear end of each rodl being employed for securing the rod firmly to the cross-head. At its forward end each of these rods 13 passes through and is guided in a cross-board 111 fastened to the bottom of the main frame or box 1. This cross-board constitutes merely a supporting guide for the'contactrods 13 and is not fastened thereto. Each of said rods preferably works in an insulated bushing, such as 15, mounted in said cross-board, and each of these bushings also preferably carries a spring contact device also insulated from the cross-boardn Each of these contact devices is designated generally by 16 and consists of a plurality or circuit of contact springs or fingers, preferably bowed, and each attached at one end to the adjacent bushing and each in sliding engagement at its free end with the contactthey engage preferably the edges of the rod instead of the fiat faces thereof, thereby assuring good contact. Each of these bushings also carries the insulated binding-posts, such as 1?, from which conductors, such as 18, pass to terminals 19 on a terminal-board 20. Two terminal-boards are shown at opposite sides of the box.y one half of the connections being made to one board 'and the other half to the opposite board. All the sliding parts liust described move back and forth in the boxv 1 with the contact-rods sliding through their guiding bushings in the cross-board 14 and moving with the cover 1 and other parts as before described, practically as a unit. For further strengtin a brace 21 extends from the cross-head centrally of the cover e and is bolted to the underside of said cover as well as to the upper side of the cross-head. The sliding element so constituted moves freely on the anti-` friction rollers 3 and is practically suspended therefrom and requires no other support save that for the movable forward ends of the contact-rods, which support is furnished, as before described, by the crossboard 14.

At their extreme forward ends the contact-rods 13 carry plug-contacts, preferably springcontacts, for engagement with the complementary circuit-controlling members, to wit, the sockets before referred to carried by the abutment member. These plugs or spring contacts designated generally by 22. .Each preferably Comisio l 1 from two pieces of spring metal, secured at i their inner ends to the fiat faces of the conitact-rods, and having at their outer ends punched circular openings through which the rounded turneddown end of the contactrod passes, the ngers Ibeing secured in place at 'their outer ends by a screvl passing i into the end of the rod and formed with ay pOnted head. Means are preferably prohere shown as four in number, and formed rod. These spring fingers are so placed that lSi pia

of a plu- I u n n '1^ rality or circuit of spring arms cr. fingers,

vided for adjustably securing these. spring fingers, which are designated by 23, to the fiat faces of the contact-rods. As illustrated herein there. are four of these lingers for each spring conta-ct, and each finger is adapted to engage at its opposite edges the metal wall ot its complementary element or socket member, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, from which it will be seen that with four spring lingers there are eight points of contact, making eight paths for the passage of current. ln addition to this, it Will be noted that when each spring plug is forced into the complementary socket the spring fingers thereof are placed under considerable tension, thereby assuring good contact With the walls oit the socket, and at the same time giving great stiffness to the plug contact considered as a Whole. At their inner ends these spring-fingers are slotted as shown at 23 to receive the shanks vof screws 23, by means of which said ngers and the respective rods 13 are joined by screw and slot connections. These loose connections between the inner ends of said contact arms and their respective rod 13 While permitting the proper compression of said contacts permit sufficient movement to prevent breakage of the contact arms. Each ot the spring contacts 22 and each contact-rod 13 is preferably made of bronze and cooperates with a brass socket member.

For each sliding plug just described a complen-entary contact element is provided f on the abutment member of the circuit-controller, as is clearly illustrated in: Figs. 2 and 4. These complementary elements are preferably brass sockets or tubes, such as 2st, which in this case are insulated 'from one another, they being shown as mounted in fiber tubes 25, the inner ends or". which are Isupported in the Ifront plate 26 of a box 27 Fig. 2 in a cross-strip. auch as 31., bolted at itsends to the cross-plate 30. The end ot the box 27 adjacent to the binding-posts 28 is closed by a swinging door 32, which maybe secured to the top of the box bymeans of the devices shovvn at 33 and locked in that position, as by means of a padlock (not shown), in a similar manner to that illus- .trated at 34 in Fig. l or locking similar doors forming parts of the casing 1. The abutment box 27 'also has leans, such as lugs 35, for fastening it to the abutment of the bridge in substantially the same way that the 'box 1 is fastened to the bridge member. The various conductors leading to the binding-posts 28 are united in a l? rom the foregoing description it will bel seen that when the sliding member 0f the circuit-controller is moved the proper distance to the right, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3,

the plugs or spring contacts 22 will enter the sockets 24 and simultaneously close'all kof the circuits of the controller, sliding con tact being at the same time maintained between the rods 13 and the terminal boards by the spring contactslG connected With such boards. At the same time the movable cover and sides of the bridge member of the controller, together with the movable bottom slide 9, will move with the plugs to a point where they will completely inclose the adjacent portions of the top and sides of the casing member 27 and also cover the conducting sockets from beneath, this being-due to the fact t?. the slide 9 moves to a point Where it strikes the stop 37, thus completely boxing in and inclosing the cooperative contact elements on all sides, Inaking a multiple draivbridge circuit controller that is practically Weatherproof and yet can be opened by a single movement.

ln Figs. 6 and 7 I have illustrated a modilication of the invention with the circuitcontroller closed, instead of open, as in the other views. In addition to this the contact devices on the drawbridge member of the' controller are considerably modified. Here' the contact-rods 13 do not pass near their tree ends through stationary spring contacts, but. instead each rod 13'has secured thereto a spring contact 38 similar to that shown at 16 in Figs. 1 and 3, and this contact 38 is in sliding engagement with the Walls ot tubes 39 similar to those shown at 2e and similarly mounted in ber cylinders or bushings 40. These tubes 39 and 40 are relatively to the box or casing 1. The circuits oi the diierent elements of the bridge member are made through conductors 41 connected with the closed ends of the metal tubes 39 and with the respective terminals 19 of the terminal-board. Thus the the one shown in the other views, except for'v some changes in the proportions of parte. Corresponding parts of the circuit-controller illustrated in these views are designatedv b'y the same reference characters as in the preceding views.

y at

What- I claim is:

1. In a sliding circuit controller, the combination with a contact-rod angular in cross section, ot a cooperating spring contact comprising contact-fingers making sliding contact with the edges of said rod.

2. n a sliding circuit controller, the combination with a contact-rod rectangular in cross section, of a cooperating spring contact through which said rod slides, said contact comprising lfour contact lingers each in sliding contact Withnne of the edges of said `rod.

3. In a sliding circuit controller, the combination with a contact-socket, of a sliding 1contact-rod, and a spring contact angular in cross-section secured to said rod and slidable into and out of said socket .and comprising a plurality of contact fingers each outwardly bowed substantially throughout its length in a direction lengthwise ot' the contact-rod and supported at both ends by said contactrod and adapted to make contact,at its angular edges only with said socket.

' contacterod and making contact at its opu It. ln a sliding circuit controller, the com` bination with a tubular contact-socket, of a sliding contact-rod, and a spring Contact angular 1n cross-section secured to said rod and slidable into and out of said socket and comprising a plurality of contact-iingers each outwardly bowed lengthwise of the pos'ite edges only'with the tubular socket.

5. In a sliding circuit controller, the combination with a contact-socket, of a slidingv contactrod, a spring Contact angular in cross-section secured to said rod and slidable into and out of said socket and comprising a plurality of contact-fingers adapted to make contact at their angular edges,

only with said socket, and a contact device Awith which said contact-rody is in constant'.v

sliding engagement;

6. n a sliding circuit controller, the combination with, a contact-socket', of asliding contact-rod, a spring contact angular in cross-section secured to said rod and slidable into andi out of said socket and comprising a plurality of contact-f1ngers adapted to make Contact attheir angular edges only with said socket, and a spring contact device with ,which said contact-rod isl in conbination "with a contact-socket and with a binding-post cooperative therewith, of 'aj sliding contact-rod, a spring Contact angullar in cross-section secured to said rod and slidable into and out of said socket and adapted t'o make contact at its angular edges only with said socket, and a combined lixed sprin contact and binding-post cooperative wlth said contact-rod and through which fixed spring contact said rod is adapted to slide.

9. In a sliding circuit controller, the combinationwith a contact-socket and with a binding-post cooperativeV therewith, of a sliding contact-rod, alspring contact angular in cross-section secured to said rod and slidable into and out of said isocket and adapted to make contact at 'its l angular edges only wit-h'said socket, and a combined fixed bearing, binding-post and spring contact, all cooperative with said contact-rod and through which bearing and spring contact said rod is adapted to slide in contact with the walls of said bearing.

10. A draw-bridge circuit controller, com prising draw-bridge and abutment memh bers', one of which has alined multiple tubular insulated contact-sockets, and the other of which has multiple insulated contact-rods slidable into and out of said sockets in alinernent therewith, each rod carrying a spring contact angularin cross section and comprising a plurality of cofntact-fingers adapted to make contact at their angular edges only with their contact-socket, and a supporting guide for each of s aid rods.

11. A draw-bridge circuit controller, com- 'prising draw-bridge and abutment members, one of which has multiple tubular^in sulated contact-sockets, and the other of which has multiple insulated contact-rods angular in cross section and slidable into Aand out of said sockets, each rod carrying a spring contact comprising a plurality of contact-lingers each secured at Aone of its ends to said contact-rod'and each resting at its free end against one of said flat faces'and each outwardlyl bowed lengthwise of the contact-rod and adapted to` be put under compression when said spring contact enters said socket.

v12. A draw-bridge circuit controller, comprising draw-bridge andabutment members constructed f to telescope one into the other, one of saidmembers having multiple insulated contactsockets, and the other of said members comprising Xed andfslidingy frames, the sliding frame having multiple f insulated contact-rods s lidable' into and out of said sockets, each rod carryingfa spring contact device angular in cross-section and adapted to make contact at its angular edges only with its respective contact-socket.

13. -A drawbridge circuit controller, comprising draw-bridge and 'abutment memgsi bers constructed to'telescope one into the other, one of said members having multiple insulated contact-sockets and the other of said members comprising fixed and sliding frames, the sliding frame having multiple insulated contact-rods angular in -cross-section and slidable into and out of said sockets, each rod carrying a spring contact device, and multiple insulated spring contacts through which the respective contact-rods pass and with which said rods are in constant sliding engagement but at their edges only.

14. A draw-bridge circuit controller, comprising draw-bridge and abutment mem-` bers constructed to telescope one into-the other, one of said members having multiple insulated contact-sockets, and the otherof said members having multiple insulated contact-rods angular in cross-section and slidable into .and out of said sockets, each rod carrying a spring Contact device, and multiple insulated spri'ng contacts and bearings through which the respective contact-rods pass and with which said rods are in constant sliding engagement but at their edges only.

15. A draw-bridge circuit controller, comprising draw-bridge and abutment members, one ot which has multiple tubular insulated contact-sockets and the other of which has a sliding cover adapted to slide over and telescope with said lirst member of the drawbridge controller, said sliding cover carrying multiple insulated contact-rods slidable into and outof said sockets, each rod carrying a contact device coperative with said socket.

16. A draw-bridge circuit controller, comprising draw-bridge and abutment members,

17. A draw-bridge circuit cont-roller, comprising draw-bridge and abutment members, one of which-has multiple insulate-d contactsockets, and the other of which has multiple insulated contact-rods slidahle int-o and out of said sockets, each rod carrying a spring Contact device angular in cross-section and adapted to make contact at its angular edges only with its respective socket, multiple insulated spring contacts and binding posts through which contacts said contactrods pass and with which said rods areJ in constant sliding engagement, a terminal board, and conductors'connectingsaid termina-1 board and binding-posts.

Signed at New York in the count of New York and State of New York this 19 day of May, A. D. 1910.

THOMAS GEGRGE STILES.

Vitnesses:

LAURA E. SMITH, C. S. CHAMPION. 

